Tasnim � An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck an area in Iran�s northern province of Golestan on Monday but there are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake jolted the city of Ramian in Golestan Province at 2:04 a.m. (local time) on Monday at a depth of 9 kilometers, according to the University of Tehran Seismological Center.

There was no immediate report on the possible damage caused by the earthquake.

According to reports coming out of the city, rescue teams have been dispatched to the quake-hit areas and hospitals are on full alert to help the injured.

A number of people have been wounded while fleeing their houses in panic. Some buildings in the city have been also destroyed.

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.

On November 12, 2017, the western province of Kermanshah was hit by a major 7.3-magnitude quake that killed 620 people.

The deadliest quake in Iran's modern history happened in June 1990. It destroyed the northern cities of Rudbar, Manjil, and Lushan, along with hundreds of villages, killing an estimated 37,000 people.

Bam in the country�s southeastern province of Kerman witnessed a strong quake in December 2003 which killed 31,000 people.